Combination coil stripper and straightening machine



C. M. WIIG Jan. 21, 1969 COMBINATION COIL STRIPPER AND STRAIGHTENING MACHINE JiZU67& 21 (%6.5;97%

Sheet Filed Nov. 8, 1966 Jan. 21, 1969 c, WHG 3,422,653

COMBINATION COIL STRIPPER AND STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1966 v Sheet 2. of 2 {BI NI M Q u N a% J72U6773 6%ede2uZ aeaf' M United States Patent 3,422,653 COMBINATION COIL STRIPPER AND STRAIGHTENING MACHINE Chester M. Wiig, Lincolnwood, Ill., 'assignor to F. J.

Littell Machine Company, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 592,900

U.S. Cl. 72-183 Int. Cl. B21d 3/12 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to apparatus for handling coils of metal stock and the like and has reference in particular to a combination coil stripper and straightening machine.

In the handling of coils of metal stock for uncoiling purposes, considerable difficulty is encountered since the coils are heavy and of fairly large size with the metal stock being tightly wound on the coil. It is, therefore, necessary to support the coil for rotation, and after the leading edge has been stripped, the material is passed through a straightening machine for removing the curvature in the stock which is inherent by reason of its circular formation in the coil.

Accordingly an object of the invention is to provide apparatus for initially stripping the leading edge from a coil of metal stock and for thereafter feeding the stock to a straightening machine while controlling the rotating action of the coil to maintain a slight tension on the material as the same unwinds.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coil stripping device having a straightening machine combined therewith and wherein a power unit is provided having releasable contact with the coil for rotating the coil during the initial stages of the stripping and straightening operations.

A further object is to provide a combination coil stripper and straightening machine which will unwind the stock material from the coil and feed the same in an upward direction to a straightening machine, which will then direct the material into an overhead arc and then downwardly and forwardly for presentation to other apparatus such as a punch press or the like.

Another object is to provide a combination coil stripper and straightening machine of the character described which will be rugged and durable in construction, wherein the operating parts will be conveniently located for repairs or replacement and which will employ power cylinders as the power means for oscillating the several pivoted arms and levers.

With these and various other objects in view the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended thereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts.

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FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a combination coil stripper and straightening machine embodying the improvements and coming within the scope of the invention; the parts being shown in the position for initially stripping the leading edge of the stock material from the rotatably mounted coil; and

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the coil stripper and straightening machine of FIGURE 1, wherein the parts are shown in a coil unwinding position.

The embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2 includes a frame or housing 10 formed of the frame supports 11 and 12 and the bottom supporting plate 13. The diagonal frame members 14 and 15 extend upwardly from the members 11 and 12 and they support the intermediate frame members 16 which in turn have a secured relation with the uprights 17 and 18 and to which the top members 20 are united to substantially complete the framework of the housing.

The top semi-circular elements 21 and 22 are supported at their respective ends by the top members 20 and the elements are spaced to form a guide or trackway 23 for the stock material, the same receiving the material at the right hand end of the trackway and discharging the material at the left hand end.

An auxiliary frame extends forwardly of the supports 11 and 12, the frame including the horizontal parallel bars 24 and the upright vertical bars 25. The horizontal and vertical bars are joined to each other by the transverse frame element 26 and the horizontal bars are each secured to a support at 27.

For uncoiling or unwinding the coil 28 of metal stock the same is supported for rotation by the coil supporting arms 30 which in combination with the central drum 31 provides journalling means for supporting the heavy coil 28 for rotation on a horizontal axis. The coil supporting and journalling structure is basically disclosed in the patent to Wiig 2,678,175 granted May 11, 1954, and entitled, Spindle Reel With Toggle Arms. The drive motor as shown for the spindle reel in the patent is employed by the present invention to drive the coil at a rate which is somewhat less than the rate at which the stock is being fed to the straightening machine. Thus a slight tension is maintained on the stock as the coil unwinds.

The heavy coil of metal stock is initially deposited on a carrier generally indicated by the numeral 32 and which includes a frame journalling the car wheels 33 adapted to ride on the rails 34. The table 35 for supporting the coil is suitably actuated by rack and pinion means 36 in a vertical direction so that the coil can be elevated and placed on the coil supporting reel. A coil loading car of the character herein described and disclosed is shown in the Littell Patent 2,634,091 granted Apr. 7, 1963.

In order to facilitate the placement of the coil on the reel, the arms 30 are retracted and then expanded so that the arms are thereby located within the center opening of the reel and in firm and secure contact with the inside convolutions of the coil. The friction power unit 37 is now placed in contact with the periphery of the coil and the bands holding the coil in a tightly wound condition can be cut. The friction power unit is of the caterpillar type being carried by the pivoted lever structure 38 which depends from the pivot axis 40. The motor 41 for driving the endless flexible belt 42 of the unit is conveniently carried by the levers 38 and through a speed reducing mechanism and additional drive elements the wheels 43 are rotated to in turn impart movement to the endless belt 42. The friction drive mechanism for the coil is moved into and out of contact with the coil by means of the power cylinder 44 which is pivot-ally anchored at 45 to the bottom plate 13 and at its upper end the piston rod of the cylinder is pivoted at 46 to the lever structure 38.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the friction power unit 37 is in contact with the outer convolution of the coil and as the coil is rotated by the friction power unit the leading edge of the coil is stripped from the same by the stripper arms 47 which are pivoted at 48 to the framework of the housing. To facilitate the stripping operation the arms 47 carry at their free end an arrangement of three rollers 50. The rollers extend transversely of the coil and they serve to defiect the leading edge of the stock material upwardly and outwardly towards the straightening machine identified in its entirety by the numeral 51. The arms 47 are suitably actuated to and from operative and inoperative positions by the power cylinder 52.

The structure 51 essentially consists of a plurality of straightening rollers 54 and which may be adjusted bodily for straightening purposes in the conventional manner. As shown in the drawing a row of four rollers has a row of three rollers in opposed relation thereto and the rollers are driven in unison, being connected by gearing, by the motor 55, the drive belt 56 and by the belt driven pulley 57. The straightening rollers are preceded by the feed rollers 58 which initially engage the leading portion of the stock material and feed the same to the straightening rollers 54. The power cylinder 60 is suitably energized for adjusting the feed rollers 58 and which are spaced a distance to facilitate the initial threading of the stock material. However, after the stock material has entered the straightening rollers the bite of the feed rolls 58 can be adjusted to suit operating conditions.

Exit rollers 61 are also provided and the bite of these rollers can be adjusted by operation of the power cylinder 62. From the exit rollers the stock material is fed through the arcuate passage 23 formed by the spaced frame members 21 and 22. The utility of the spaced frame elements and the arcuate passage 23 formed by the same is to receive the stock material from the straightening rolls and direct the material to the opposite side of the apparatus. At the exit end of the passage the stock is directed downwardly onto the pivotally supported platform 66 and then onto the platform 67 which is also pivotally supported. However, the platform 66 is pivoted at 68 to depend downwardly whereas platform 67 is pivoted at 70 to extend rearwardly approximately horizontally. Here also, the platforms have a width substantially equal to that of the stock material and it will be noted that the platform 66 has an apron 71 which terminates some distance short of the free end of the platform. This allows the free end of platform 67 to lie within the platform 66 and as shown in the drawings the former is in contact at all times with the tie rod 72. Accordingly, the tie rod functions to support the free end of the platform 67 and said tie rod is located at the end of the platform 66 to thus assist in joining the levers which help to form the platform 66. The power cylinder 78 oscillates both platforms to and from their positions as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. At 73 the cylinder is pivotally anchored to the base 13 and the piston rod of the cylinder is pivotally secured at 74 to the platform 66 and which location is close to the tie rod 72.

The stock material forms a loop between the platforms 66 and 67 and as a result of said loop the material is bent in a direction which is opposite to the curvature of the coil. As a safety device to control the size of the loop the invention provides a roller 75 which is jonrnalled for rotation at the depending free ends of the rods 76. The rods are in turn pivotally supported by the framework on the same pivot axis 68 as the platform 66. A start and stop switch 77 is associated with the pivot axis and said switch is actuated to open when the roller 75 is in its extreme down position, FIGURE 1. With the opening of the switch 77 the motor which drives the coil is stopped and also the feeding of the stock material is discontinued. However, during operation feeding of the material to other apparatus continues and presently the roller will be elevated to again start the motor driving the coil and the feeding of the material to the straightening rolls.

In the event the size of the loop should materially increase or decrease to a minimum, the operator can speed up or slow down the rotation and the feeding action of the rolls 58 and 61 by the rheostat 80 having the handle or knob 81 which is rotatable for adjusting the rheostat. The knob 81 is conveniently located on the upright member 11 of the framework so as to be. easily accessible to the operator. Also, a backbreaker 82 is provided for initially bending the stock material into the loop form as shown in FIGURE 2 and which functions to assure that a loop will continue to exist. The backbreaker 82 is pivoted to the framework at 83 and the lock 84 when operative prevents pivoting of the backbreaker.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the outer convolution of the coil 28 has been stripped by the stripper arm 47 and the same is being directed by the rollers 50 toward the feed rollers 58 for feeding to the straightening machine 51. During this stripping operation the friction power unit 37 is in contact with the coil and the motor 41 will be operative so as to cause the power unit to impart a rotative movement to the coil in a counterclockwise direction. After the leading edge of the stock material has passed through the straightening machine it is directed by the arcuate members 21 and 22 over the top of the apparatus and in a downward direction toward the platform 66. This platform together with platform 67 will produce a bend in the material and as a result of said bend the material is directed forwardly over the roller at the journalling point 70 for presentation to other apparatus.

The feeding action of the apparatus is shown in FIG- URE 2 wherein it will be observed that the friction drive unit 37 has been withdrawn from the coil and that the stripper arm 47 has also been Withdrawn. Accordingly the feeding rollers 58 and 61 and the rollers of the straightening machine 51 are withdrawing the stock material at the desired rate from the coil and which is being rotated by the drive motor of the spindle reel device at a somewhat slower rate sufiicient to maintain a slight tension on the stock material. This is desirable since it prevents the free and excessive unwinding of the stock material of the coil and an expansion of the coil.

The size of the loop formed by the angular relation of the platforms 66 and 67 is largely controlled by the loop control roller 75 and switch mechanism 77. However, the rotative action of the coil and the feeding action of the feed rolls can be adjusted by the operator by means of the notch 81 which controls the rheostat 80. The backbreaker 82 is normally free to pivot at 83. However, when it is desired to render the same operative, the lock 84 is manipulated and as a result the backbreaker is prevented from pivoting in a clockwise direction. Should the stock material contact the backbreaker when the same is in a locked position the element will assist in the formation of the desired loop which is thereafter largely controlled as to size by the loop control roller 75.

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction of the particular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings as various other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a spindle reel for supporting a coil of stock material for rotation, of straightening rollers located adjacent the coil for straightening the material as the same nmvinds from the coil, means forming part of the frame of the apparatus for receiving the material from the straightening rollers and for directing the same over the top of the apparatus to the opposite side, and an arrangement of pivotally supported platforms at said opposite side of the apparatus and with which the stock material is caused to contact for directing the material forwardly in a substantially horizontal manner, said platforms having an angular relation with each other such as to deform the material received from the means which directs the same over the top of the apparatus so as to bend the material into an are which is opposite to the curvature of the material when it formed part of the coil.

2. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a spindle reel, of a coil of stock material supported by the spindle reel for rotation, means for initially stripping the leading edge of the outer convolution from the coil including a stripper arm pivotally supported by the frame of the apparatus, an arrangement of rollers carried by the free end of the stripper arm, a power cylinder for oscillating the arm to locate the rollers in an operative or in an inoperative position with respect to the coil, a friction driving unit pivotally suspended from the frame of the apparatus and adapted for oscillation into and out of contact with the coil, and a plurality of straightening rollers located adjacent the coil for straightening the stock material as the same unwinds from the coil, the said rollers being so arranged as to direct the leading edge of the stock material stripped from the coil towards the said straightening rollers.

3. In apparatus of the character described by claim 2, additionally including means forming part of the frame of the apparatus for reciving the material from the straightening rollers and for directing the same over the top of the apparatus to the opposite side, and pivotally supported platforms at said opposite side of the apparatus for directing the stock material received from. said means forwardly in a substantially horizontal manner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,953,092 4/1934 Yoder 24278.7 2,288,786 7/1942 Carroll 72183 X 2,757,880 8/1956 De La Motte 24278.7 2,525,254 10/1950 Appleby 242 78.8 3,010,672 11/1961 Cecil 242 78.8 3,187,530 6/1965 Ranney 72-483 X 3,343,393 9/1967 Groll 72183 MILTON S. MEHR, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 72161 

